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Dear Friend,
After a busy week in Congress, I’m here with an update on new funding to support submarine construction, my work defending servicemembers' access to loan forgiveness, and more. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
On Memorial Day, We Remember Those Lost in Service to Our Nation
On Monday, we mark one of our most solemn and important holidays. Memorial Day provides a moment to reflect and remember all those who have died in uniform, serving our nation. We owe a debt to these men and women, and we must honor their legacy by ensuring their families and all veterans have access to the support and care they deserve.
That’s why I helped enact an historic expansion of veterans care and benefits. The Honoring Our PACT Act is expanding VA health care and benefits for nearly 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances while serving our nation. Here in Connecticut, thousands of veterans have filled new CT VA claims under the law. Learn more about the PACT Act here.
New Federal Funding to Support Virginia Class Submarine Construction
More good news to help our region take on increased shipbuilding work. On Tuesday, the Navy announced it is investing over $1 billion in the Virginia-class submarine program at Electric Boat. In Congress, we’ve kept the two-a-year build rate for Virginia-class submarines strong, and this funding for 2024 sends a clear demand signal to the industrial base. This investment will help our shipyard its nationwide network of suppliers stable as we prepare for new work in support of the AUKUS agreement while also sustaining production levels for our own Navy.
There's no one more skilled or experienced in submarine construction than the shipbuilders in eastern Connecticut. They’re well-positioned to deliver the high-quality submarines our Navy and allies need. This week’s announcement from the Navy is joined by historic investments in our submarine industrial base we’ve made in Congress. In 2023, we secured $751 million to strengthen the nationwide Submarine Industrial Base – including $267 million for workforce development. Electric Boat has ramped up its hiring goals – aiming for 5,750 new hires in 2023 alone. The energy around this growth can be felt at “signing day” events in the Second District, which have a feeling similar to the NFL draft when young graduates from local career and technical education programs join local employers – including EB. As always, I’m working to ensure sustained federal investments in our submarine industrial base for years to come.
Helping Public Servants, Servicemembers Access Loan Forgiveness
It’s been a top priority of mine for years to strengthen the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Congress created PSLF in 2007 on a bipartisan basis – a commonsense program to reward Americans who commit themselves to careers in public service. The program forgives student loans for teachers, nurses, first responders, military servicemembers and others who have worked 10 years in public service while making recurring payments on their student loans.
That was the promise made. Unfortunately, under former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, PSLF was woefully mismanaged. In 2018, out of 890,000 public servants who took initial steps to discharge their loans, just 55 had their loans forgiven. Military servicemembers were particularly hard hit when they were told that their activity duty service would not count toward loan forgiveness. This was disgraceful.
In response to PSLF’s mismanagement, I worked in Congress to make straightforward fixes. Now, the Department of Education has put many of the changes I called for in place, and the program is now fulfilling its intended promise. Since 2021, 1,800 public servants in Connecticut have had $111.3 million in loans forgiven, and servicemembers’ active-duty service is now counted towards loan forgiveness. This week, in the House Education and Workforce Committee, I reminded my colleagues of the great PSLF improvements secured under President Biden. Watch above.
Fraud Alert: Unsolicited COVID Tests
A quick PSA on a nationwide fraud scheme: I’ve heard from seniors in CT who have received surprise Medicare bills after receiving unsolicited COVID tests in the mail. This is part of a nationwide Medicare scam.
If you receive medical supplies that you didn't order, call the Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center: 877-808-2468.
Thanks for taking some time to read my update. If we can be of any assistance, don't hesitate to give my Norwich office a call at (860) 886-0139.
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
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